Author's Note: Thanks to the following people for reviewing my story since my last chapter:
ASongInMyHead, ShanaSakuraGal, PlatinumGal, Lucy Landlady, homesweethomicide13.
It feels awesome logging on to Fanfiction and seeing you've got 5 more reviews than last time! So thanks .
In response to ShanaSakuraGal's question: well I really hadn't thought about how old Anna is in this story, she's not exactly a main character, I just felt like putting her in lol. But maybe about 18 months-ish? I don't know, you can decide!
And thanks for the suggestion PlatinumGal!
By the way, sorry for taking so long to update, blame it on my science teacher for giving us so much homework!
"The Wennbar?" cried Lief, "but I thought…"
"There is no time for thinking about that now, we've got to fight!" said Jasmine.
And so Barda lunged forward at the Wennbar, furiously slashing at the creature's underbelly.
The Wennbar, now more angry than ever, gave a quick slash of his tail, and knocked Barda onto the floor.
"Barda!" Lief cried, running forward to the Wennbar, planning to stick his sword into its throat, but he was too slow. The Wennbar dodged in a flash, leaving Lief thrusting his sword in the empty air.
Meanwhile, Barda, who had now recovered from his blow, and Jasmine, were creeping up on the Wennbar while it was concentrating on Lief, but the ferocious Wennbar saw them, and their efforts were in vain.
Lief looked down to the Belt, planning to touch the Diamond to give him strength. But while he was looking down at the Belt, he saw the Topaz shining extremely brightly, as bright as the sun. The only other time he had remembered the Topaz as bright as this was…
Suddenly the forest canopy above them came crashing down. Birds flew away in alarm, and the Wennbar looked up, startled. Lief, Barda and Jasmine stared in amazement. But then the sun seemed to be crashing down on them. All they could see was gold, gold and more gold. And then they finally realised what it was. It was Fidelis, the dragon of the Topaz.
No time was wasted asking questions, and Fidelis got to work, attacking the Wennbar, smothering it in scorching golden fire. The Wennbar fought hard, his long neck almost missing Fidelis on many occasions, but it soon began to tire, and Fidelis finished him off with one final gust of fire.
The four of them stood there in silence for a minute or so, getting their breath back.
But then they heard a rustling sound in the distance. Jasmine's hand instantly moved to her dagger.
"No need to be alarmed, Jasmine," laughed Lief, "it is just a…"
Lief stopped because the sound was getting louder and louder. Then they saw the cause of the sound. Running towards them, were dozens of Wenn. They had sensed that there was something wrong with their master, and came running to see what the problem was.
"Run!" cried Barda desperately. And so they ran, as fast as their legs could take them. But where was Fidelis? Their question was answered as they saw golden fire above where the Wenn were running. But would it be enough? The Wenn seemed to be gaining ground.
The companions continued running north, but they were almost exhausted now. Lief looked down to the Belt again to put his hand on the Diamond, but now the Ruby was shining blindingly bright, as well as the Topaz. It was pink, to show danger, but it was a bright flamingo pink. Lief felt a flash of hope.
And, as Lief had expected, Joyeu, the dragon of the Ruby, soon came crashing through the trees.
"Joyeu… help… the Wenn… behind….Fidelis…" gasped Jasmine. And, with a nod, Joyeu flew over to assist Fidelis.
Lief, Barda and Jasmine carried on running, but soon they became too exhausted to go any further. They looked behind them. To their delight, there was only one Wenn left.
"Let us rest now, the dragons have killed forty of them, they will get that one," said Barda. And they were so tired that they didn't notice the last Wenn running towards them, closely pursued by Joyeu and Fidelis.
"Watch out!" exclaimed Fidelis. Jasmine screamed in pain. The Wenn was stinging her, paralysing her.
"Jasmine!" cried Lief, in despair. Soon Fidelis caught up with the Wenn, and killed the final Wenn, but it was too late. The damage had been done.
Now nothing mattered to Lief. Jasmine was gone, his reason for living was gone. He started sobbing uncontrollably.
"Lief…" said Barda gently.
"Shut up!" sobbed Lief. He tried touching the Amethyst to calm him, but the grief was too great for it to be of much use.
"Use the roomy, obscure denim!" Lief heard Barda say, but he did not pay any attention. How could they talk nonsense when Jasmine had just died? He saw Joyeu gently breathing fire onto Jasmine.
"Stop it!" he cried, "She's not dead yet! Not dead yet…" his voice trailed off into despair. But Joyeu kept on breathing fire onto the girl.
But then, miraculously, Jasmine started stirring again.
"Jasmine… but how?" said Lief in wonder.
"The Ruby is an antidote to venom, and so is my fire." said Joyeu,
"The Wenn's venom had paralysed me, but Joyeu's fire neutralised it, so now I can move again." said Jasmine, as if she was talking to a child.
Lief was overjoyed to hear her voice again. "But why did you not just ask me to put the Ruby onto her?" Lief inquired.
"We did!" cried Barda, "How many times did we say 'use the ruby, it cures venom'? But you just would not listen!"
Use the roomy, obscure denim…
So that's what he said! thought Lief.
"But how did you dragons know that we needed your help?" asked Jasmine.
"Ah, well whenever the King of Deltora is in a dragon's territory, and he loses whatever the symbol of the dragon's territory which he is in is, then we can sense it, and come to your rescue", explained Fidelis, "So I came to help you because I could sense that you had lost faith."
"And I," added Joyeu, "could tell that you were unhappy as soon as you entered my territory, so I came to help you."
"But what I do not understand is how the Wennbar knew of the Lilies of Life, for that is surely what he was protecting." said Barda.
"Most animals can understand the language of the trees as well" sighed Jasmine, "the Wennbar had probably the trees talking of the Lilies of Life."
"Anyway, talking of the Lilies of Life, we had better head off back to them, it is sunset now, and the Lilies of Life bloomed shortly after sunset all those years ago." said Lief.
"Yes, you are right," said Jasmine.
"Farewell, Fidelis, farewell Joyeu" they called, as Joyeu flew off towards the mountains, and Fidelis flew south-west towards the Os-Mine Hills.